Asimov's Foundation

Inspired by the content of this forum as of late, speaking mainly of pulpish and nonsensical science fiction writers and authors, and the chosen debate that science fiction should not be viewed in the same light as other literary works, I thought I would bring up the topic of "Foundation" by Isaac Asimov. I find this book to be not only one of the greatest science fiction novels I've ever read, but one of the greatest pieces of literature I've ever read.

I understand many will not agree with me on this, but if you have not read this novel (a trilogy rather), I suggest that you do so.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foundation_series

Some thoughts on this work?

The Foundation Trilogy transformed science fiction, and it may have seeped into society large. Before the Foundation Trilogy Earthlings regarded themselves as limited in time and space, but that changed with Asimov's Foundation. The change was clearest in SF, but the idea of people being alive millions of years from now became reasonable.

As a work of fiction, the Trilogy has problems, but using a concept as the central, unifying, matter was a very good touch. If he had written it all at once, then it might be more unified, but he may have intended the sections to be different in style.

It's not bad. I'd still consider it strictly genre fiction, though.

Some readers will find the ideas in a particular SF novel profound or revolutionary or life-changing. There's no way to prove a particular idea is or is not profound, and the same applies to revolutionary. As for life-changing, anyone comes across a book that's life-changing, I say more power to ya.

My problem with SF is the quality of the prose, which is almost invariably schematic, a bit pedantic, and almost always humorless. I include Asimov in that, although he is a far better writer than most. Lucid and readable, at least.

Surprisingly, what's almost always missing from even the most highly regarded SF novels is a sense of whimsy. It's one of the least imaginative genres out there.

The only exception I have so far encountered is Douglas Adam's Hitchhiker trilogy. I'll take inventive silliness over pedantry any day.

Justina Robson's Quantum Gravity series isn't half bad, either.

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Originally Posted by curlyqlink

Surprisingly, what's almost always missing from even the most highly regarded SF novels is a sense of whimsy. It's one of the least imaginative genres out there.

The only exception I have so far encountered is Douglas Adam's Hitchhiker trilogy. I'll take inventive silliness over pedantry any day.

Justina Robson's Quantum Gravity series isn't half bad, either.

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You obviously haven't read much science fiction. Edmondson, Kornbluth, de Camp, Pohl, Anderson, etc., etc. were very whimsical and imaginative. You should try reading some of the good quality SF like The Ship That Sailed the Time Stream by G.C. Edmondson.

I don't know about Justina Robson, but the Hitchiker series is not actually Science Fiction.

I bought the Foundation series a few weeks back.. not started them yet, but have never read any proper sci-fi before and heard this was the best place to start..
is weird because I am a bit of a sci-fi fan when it comes to movies etc but have never been motivated to read anything before, apart from HG Wells obviously, but I'm talking about post-cavorite sci-fi!

What if Asimov's Foundation, or something like it, actually existed? Would you join it like Gaal Dornick? Find out more here.

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Originally Posted by PeterL

You obviously haven't read much science fiction. Edmondson, Kornbluth, de Camp, Pohl, Anderson, etc., etc. were very whimsical and imaginative. You should try reading some of the good quality SF like The Ship That Sailed the Time Stream by G.C. Edmondson.

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I'm inclined to agree, what about Clifford D. Simak's The Goblin Reservation for one?

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Originally Posted by PeterL

I don't know about Justina Robson, but the Hitchiker series is not actually Science Fiction.

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It was originally a BBC 4 radio series & is essentially a parody of sci fi. It was much better on the radio I think. I still have the second series on audiotape somewhere.

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Originally Posted by Red-Headed

I'm inclined to agree, what about Clifford D. Simak's The Goblin Reservation for one?

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Fine with me

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Originally Posted by PeterL

Fine with me

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Yeah, a sci fi novel that has an educated Neanderthal called Ally Oop, time travel, trolls & even Shakespeare himself has something of the whimsical & humorous. :nod:

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Originally Posted by Red-Headed

Yeah, a sci fi novel that has an educated Neanderthal called Ally Oop, time travel, trolls & even Shakespeare himself has something of the whimsical & humorous. :nod:

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I'm pretty sure that I read it some time ago.

I have a question: since the First Foundation was more about physical science and the Second Foundation was based on psychologists, could we say that the First Foundation was composed of psychologists or persons with training in psychology? As a psychologist, I would like very much to discuss this issue...

I mean, all this in the context of the Seldon's Plan!

It's misleading to say that the Foundation Series is a trilogy, since is constitued by seven books written by Asimov and three more written by other authors, authorized by Asimov's heirs! I have all these books, and until now I've read the first five, that is, until the Second Foundation!
1. Prelude to Foundation; 2. Forward the Foundation; 3. Foundation; 4. Foundation and Empire; 5. Second Foundation; 6. Foundation's Edge; 7. Foundation and Earth; 8. Foundation's Fear; 9. Foundation's Chaos and 10. Foundation's Triumph! The last three are also known as Second Foundation's Trilogy!

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Originally Posted by Mathor

Inspired by the content of this forum as of late, speaking mainly of pulpish and nonsensical science fiction writers and authors, and the chosen debate that science fiction should not be viewed in the same light as other literary works, I thought I would bring up the topic of "Foundation" by Isaac Asimov. I find this book to be not only one of the greatest science fiction novels I've ever read, but one of the greatest pieces of literature I've ever read.

I understand many will not agree with me on this, but if you have not read this novel (a trilogy rather), I suggest that you do so.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foundation_series

Some thoughts on this work?

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I have read Asimov but I prefer visionary Arthur C Clarke.

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Originally Posted by curlyqlink

It's not bad. I'd still consider it strictly genre fiction, though.

Some readers will find the ideas in a particular SF novel profound or revolutionary or life-changing. There's no way to prove a particular idea is or is not profound, and the same applies to revolutionary. As for life-changing, anyone comes across a book that's life-changing, I say more power to ya.

My problem with SF is the quality of the prose, which is almost invariably schematic, a bit pedantic, and almost always humorless. I include Asimov in that, although he is a far better writer than most. Lucid and readable, at least.

Surprisingly, what's almost always missing from even the most highly regarded SF novels is a sense of whimsy. It's one of the least imaginative genres out there.

The only exception I have so far encountered is Douglas Adam's Hitchhiker trilogy. I'll take inventive silliness over pedantry any day.

Justina Robson's Quantum Gravity series isn't half bad, either.

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:frown2: Curly, don't make me cry... Science Fiction can be both awe inspiring and humorous. I think the only science fiction author I've ever read that could be considered pedantic is Jules Verne, and when reading his work you have to realize that the reason he was spending so much time with detail was because he was imagining things that had never been imagined before.

I cannot even comprehend why anyone would say Science Fiction is unimaginative. It is one of the most imaginative genres out there, because the purpose behind science fiction is to write about things that are not possible yet. It was no coincidence that the first interracial kiss on TV was on a science fiction show (Star Trek)... in what other genre can the controversial be something that is not only imagined, but accepted as a potential reality?

As for whimsy, there are many science fiction authors that convey a sense of whimsy! Isaac Asimov, Artur C. Clarke, Orson Scott Card, Dan Simmons, Connie Willis, John Scalzi, and Alistair Reynolds are all contenders. And new science fiction writers keep coming; personally I find that new releases in other genres are often stale, while there's always something juicy in the sci fi section.

To answer the OP, I haven't read foundation yet, because for some reason I can never find the books in order when I look for them. I have, however, read his "I, Robot" short story collection, which was excellent. I'll have to seek those books out again and see if I can find them in order this time.